Sunday, November 14, 2010

Say Good Morning with Bread & Perish!

OUR COUNTRY'S CITY dwellers have access to machine-made white bread. The production of white bread from refined flour or maida takes place by eradicating Vitamins of minerals in the process. The final product, white bread, is pleasant to taste, but causes havoc with the teeth. On the other hand it adversely effect the digestive system.

Whole wheat contains besides the usual carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. The vitamins are concentrated in the outer layer of the kernel. Refining retains mainly the carbohydrates, and eliminates most of the vitamins. Both zinc and cadmium are found in wheat grain: the zinc in the outer layer, the cadmium in the grain centre. Milling removes the zinc, but retains the cadmium: beneficial is eradicated, the malignant is maintained.

The final product lasts longer since even the oils are lost, but it is without fiber. This is an unwanted development since fiber less paste sticks in the crevices of the teeth and causes caries. It also leads to constipation. But like white sugar, and like satellites, VCRs and airports, white bread is another major symbol of modern civilization.

Having discovered that the technology that produces white bread also ruins it nutritionally, millers in western countries now add synthetic vitamins and minerals to the flour they use to make bread. So we have 'vitamin-enriched' bread! Technology first eliminates the vitamins and minerals from the flour, and then shores it up through synthetic inputs.

Poleszynski's United Nations University study concludes that the best way to relate to wheat and flour is the Indian way.

Rudolf Ballantine writes: 'The Indians continue, as they have done for thousands of years, to quietly grind their flour with stone mills and sift out the coarsets 5 percent producing a bread (roti, chapati and phulka) both wholesome and digestible. It seems likely that this process approaches the ideal, and there is no reason why modern steel roller mills could not be adapted to produce a similar product.

The periodic visits made by our roti-eaters to the flour mill are necessitated by the fact that the germ of the wheat contains oils. Consequently, whole wheat flour, from which such oils have not been removed, tends to go rancid. Since whole grains do not spoil for years, it makes sense to mill only small amounts at a time. The solution on the whole is modest, ingenious. But it is unglamorous. What is modern must be welcomed, otherwise people will say we are living in the eighteenth century and not in the twenty-first! Besides, we have so many dental colleges, and their products suffer from an unemployment problem. The proliferation of caries among the population could keep all dentists gainfully employed, and add to economic growth.

The periodic milling to wheat by Indian households is a prime example of an older technology that cannot be updated or improved by modern science. It is in fact a form of permanent or constantly unhappy with itself, continuously engaged in modifying its technologies till we have reached a point where such modification has become an end in itself. Once modification itself becomes a source of profit, it seems a natural process, something the human species has always been doing since it felt the need for technology.

Fortunately, a large number of people intend to preserve the older system of milling their wheat to prepare their rotis. They may not know that their habits have recently been vindicated in world forums such as the UNU. But this does not matter. More important is the planner's prejudice, which, as in the case of sugar, has blindly convinced him that large-scale sugar factories and flour mills are the answers to modern India's needs. Such opinions are getting increasingly difficult to maintain in the light of more knowledge. But the bondage to modernity is of a peculiar kind. Often, its alleged superiority or advantage is thrust upon us only to conceal the fact that some bureaucrat has made a commission on some sale of technology (which this country may not at all need).

Who is An Administrator ?

WHAT IS THE role of an administrator in the society? Going by English definition, its one who administers. Fortunately the Indian civilization and Sanskrit language is very advanced and has appropriate words for everything. Kshatrias are the people who are supposed to be the rulers. Who is a Kshatria? Someone born of a Rajput father? No, its very clearly written in our scriptures that Brahmans, Kshatria, Vaishya and Shudra are four classes of all human being based on their qualities and their deeds. So Kshatrias are (kshati =damage, Tra=destroyer). The one who destroys those who damage the society.

If someone grabs other's property or insults his family or denies their rights, or disturbs people from performing their duties, such a person is to be controlled or eliminated buy the kshatrias. On the contrary what is happening today? Mafias, smugglers, criminals, cheats, frauds, black marketeers, rapists, dacoits, murderers are working hand in glove with the ruling elite. The entire administration has become void of 'niti'. 'Niti' is derived out of Naitikta (Morality).

Morality comes out of sacrifices and renunciation. But today the majority of the administrators are freely indulging in enmassing wealth and sense gratification. Then how can there be peace and prosperity in the society? The administrators have to set an example. Unfortunately, there is total lack of moral leadership in the country.

The immoral forces are dominant and aggressive. Irony of the situation is that people claim to resort to Gandhian methods of satyagrha when they are raided by C.B.I. Arif Md. Khan and custom officers of Delhi Airport are good example of this phenomenon. Imagine the fate of the country where the reform movement is also being led by those who need to reform themselves.

The problem started when the centralisation of power was done to benefit few individuals. There is not a single party who can claim to identify 500 honest upright and clean candidates for the next Lok Sabha out of 900 million people. They will not do it also because it does not suit their interest to strengthen democracy which would ultimately weaken them. But all those who feel concerned for this nation and who are unhappy with the state of affairs should come forward to provide sufficient opportunity for such leadership to grow at the grass root level.

India is a great country. Those who curse Indian people have not understood the beauty of this civilization. Pessimism creeps out of self-negation or of compromising attitude. Those who are clean and have moral force they never lose hope and keep on trying.

Our appeal will have a force only when we are morally strong and we have full conviction for what we stand. So we should try to solve problems that are present within our surroundings within the resources at our disposal. We have to ask ourselves, are we making an intelligent use of our existence? Or are we living an animas life of eating, sleeping, mating and defending out interests.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

जाना मुख्यमंत्री का


Rajasthan Patrika 12 Nov 10
Ekgkjk’Vª dk eq[;ea=h cuus dh pkgr lwph ges”kk gh cgqr yEch gksrh gSA dkj.k lkQ gSA egkjk’Vª dh jkt/kkuh eqEcbZ Hkkjr dh vkfFkZd jkt/kkuh Hkh gSA ;g /ku dqcsjksa dh uxjh gSA ns”kHkj ds jktuSfrd ny gksa ;k lkekftd dke djus okys yksx] vkfFkZd enn ds fy, eqEcbZ nkSM+rs gSaA t+kfgj gS fd dqcsjksa dh fj;klr dk lnj dksbZ nhughu lqnkek rks gks ugha ldrk vkSj dHkh HkkX;o”k cu Hkh tk;s rks ^vkn”kZ gkmflax lkslkbVh* tSlh vV~Vkfydkvksa esa mlds djksM+ksa ds dapu egy curs nsj ugha yxrh] fQj pkgsa ,- vkj- varqys dk ?kksVkyk gks ;k v”kksd pOgk.k dkA

fiNys fnuksa ,d futh okrkZ esa Hkktik ds ofj’B usrk ykyd`’.k vkMok.kh crk jgs Fks fd os vius eq[;eaf=;ksa ls ckj&ckj ;gh dgrs gSa fd rqe ;g er Hkwyks fd rqEgkjk in cgqr egRoiw.kZ gSA izns”k dh turk us rqEgsa viuh ckxMksj lkSaih gSA rqEgkjh “kfDr vlhfer gSA mldk foosd ls iz;ksx djks vkSj ykyp ls cpksA lkFk gh os ;g Hkh cksys fd eq[;ea=h ds in ij vkus ds ckn izk;% O;fDr ds fQlyus dh lEHkkouk dkQh c<+ tkrh gSA fQj pkgsa tehu vko.Vu ds ekeys gksa] vQljksa ds rcknyksa ds] dsUnzh; vkfFkZd iSdst ds fØ;kUo;u ds ;k fQj fodkl ;kstukvksa ds fy, fufonk nsus ds fu.kZ;A ,d eq[;ea=h NksVs ls dk;Zdky esa lSadM+ksa djksM+ cuk ysrk gSA viokn dksbZ Hkh ny ugha gSA t;yfyrk ls ysdj ykyw ;kno rd] eqyk;e flag ;kno ls ysdj ek;korh rd] olqU/kjk jkts ls ysdj izdk”k flag ckny rd] vtqZu flag ls ysdj ,u-Vh- jkekjko rd gj eq[;ea=h ij Hkz’Vkpkj ds Hkkjh vkjksi yxrs jgs gSaA vkjksiksa dks NksM+ Hkh nsa ;k mUgsa jktuhfr ls izsfjr eku ysa rks Hkh ;g rF; rks Nqik;k ugha tk ldrk fd tks O;fDr mRrj izns”k ds ,d fMxzh dkWyst dk izoDrk jgk gksrk gS ;k Ldwy Vhpj jgk gksrk gS] og eq[;ea=h cuus ds ckn diM+s] tk;nkn] tsoj vkSj [kpksZa ds ekeys esa lSadM+ksa djksM+ dh “kf[l;r dSls cu tkrk gS\ D;k blds fy, mlus dksbZ frt+kjr dh\ D;k dksbZ m|ksx pyk;k\ D;k dksbZ fu;kZr fd;k\ D;k dksbZ O;kikj fd;k\ D;k dksbZ eksVh ru[okg dh ukSdjh dh\ vxj ,slk dqN Hkh ugha fd;k rks ;g dSls gksrk gS fd >kSaiM+h esa iSnk gksus okyk eq[;ea=h curs gh jkrksa&jkr lSadM+ksa djksM+ dk vkneh cu tkrk gSA

vkt v”kksd pOgk.k dks cyh dk cdjk cuk;k x;k gSA ij ,sls reke nwljs usrk Hkh gSa ftUgkasus ^vkn”kZ lkslkbVh* dk nq:Ik;ksx futfgr esa fd;kA mudk vHkh dqN ugha fcxM+kA fcxM+sxk rks v”kksd pOgk.k dk Hkh dqN ughaA D;kasfd jkgqy xk¡/kh pkgsa ftruk fpYyk dj dg ysa fd mUgsa egkjk’Vª dh xn~nh ij lkQ Nfo dk O;fDr pkfg,] ij lkQ Nfo okys dks ogk¡ rd igq¡pus gh ugha fn;k tkrkA ogh igq¡p ikrk gS tks vius ny ds cM+s usrkvksa dks yxkrkj FkSyh igq¡pkus dk dke djrk gSA FkSyh oks igq¡pkrk Hkh gS ij tc oks fdlh cM+s ?kksVkys esa Qalrk gS rks FkSyh ysrs vk jgs cM+s usrk ,sls dUuh dkV ysrs gSa tSls mudk dksbZ fj”rk gh ugha jgk gksA fQj lkQ Nfo okys u;s I;kns dh ryk”k dh tkrh gSA ftldh Nfo dks Hkqukdj fQj ogh [ksy “kq: gks tkrk gSA ,d losZ{k.k djok fy;k tk;s fd ns”k ds lHkh izkrksa esa fiNys rhu n”kd esa tks&tks O;fDr eq[;ea=h jgs] mudh orZeku lEifRr fdruh gS vkSj tc os eq[;ea=h cus Fks rks rc mudh D;k gSfl;r Fkh\ irk ;gh pysxk fd tks&tks eq[;ea=h cuk] mlus lwcs dks nqgus dk dke rks rsth ls fd;k ij gkykr lq/kkjus ds dke esa oks eqLrSnh ugha fn[kk;hA

nwljh rjQ gky ds o’kksZa esa dqN ,sls mnkgj.k Hkh ns[kus esa vk;s gSa tcfd dqN eq[;eaf=;ksa us ekStwnk ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa Hkh vius lwcs ds yksxksa dks rjDdh ds jkLrs fn[kk;sA loky mBrk gS fd D;k Hkz’Vkpkj ij “kksj epkus ls bl cqjkbZ ls fuiVk tk ldrk gS\ oks Hkh ml nkSj esa tcfd iwjh rjg Hkz’Vkpkj f”k’Vkpkj cu pqdk gksA bl eqn~ns ij ns”k esa ges”kk cgqr fy[kk vkSj cksyk tkrk gSA ij dksbZ Hkh ny] usrk] laln ;k loksZPp U;k;ky; ,slk bZekunkj iz;kl ugha djrs gSa ftlls Hkz’Vkpkj ls fuiVk tk lds vkSj “kklura= dks ikjn”khZ cuk;k tk ldsA blfy, vk;s fnu ?kksVksy gksrs gSa vkSj fQj eq[;ea=h dks cnydj nksckjk ywV pkyw gks tkrh gSA
  
pwafd gekjk ns”k la?kh; <kaps esa pyrk gS] blfy, dsUnz jkT;ksa ds Hk`’V eq[;ea=h;ksa ij viuh nknkfxjh Fkksi dj mUgsa gVk ugha ldrkA tc rd fd ml jkT; dh jktuSfrd gkyr bruh u fcxM+ tk, fd ljdkj pyk ikuk vlEHko gks tk,A vc tcfd jktusrkvksa ij ikjn”khZ vkpj.k dk ncko c<+rk tk jgk gS] mEehn dh tkuh pkfg, fd vkus okys oDr esa turk vkSj Hkh T;knk ltx jgdj vius eq[;ea=h vkSj eaf=;ksa dks tckonsg cuk;sxhA

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

सतर्कता आयोग की दुर्गति क्यों ?


Rajasthan Patrika 20 Sep 2010
dsUnz ljdkj ds egdeksa esa O;kIr Hkz’Vkpkj dks jksdus vkSj Hkz’V vf/kdkfj;ksa ds vkpj.k dh tk¡p djus dk nkf;Ro dsUnzh; lrdZrk vk;ksx ij gSA 1998 esa loksZPp U;k;ky; us bls O;kid vf/kdkj nsdj lh-ch-vkbZ- o vk;dj foHkkx tSlh ,tsafl;ksa ds gj dke ij fuxjkuh j[kus dk ftEek Hkh lkSaik FkkA ij ikjnf”kZrk dk nkok djus okyh MkW- eueksgu flag dh ljdkj dsUnzh; lrdZrk vk;ksx dks iaxq cukus ij rqyh gSA rhu lnL;h; bl vk;ksx esa ,d lnL; Hkkjrh; iz”kklfud lsok] nwljs lnL; Hkkjrh; iqfyl lsok o rhljs lnL; Hkkjrh; cSafdax lsok ds lsokfuo`Rr vf/kdkfj;ksa esa ls pqus tkrs gSaA vk;ksx ij dke dk bruk cks> gS fd ;s rhu vf/kdkjh Hkh feydj dke ugha laHkky ikrsA ij yxrk gS fd ljdkj dh bPNk gh ugha gS fd lrdZrk vk;ksx eqLrSnh ls dke djsA ojuk D;k otg gS fd xr~ 2009 ds uoEcj eghus esa dsUnzh; lrdZrk vk;ksx ds lsokfuo`Rr gq, nks lnL;ksa] Jherh jatuk dqekj o Jh lq/khj dqekj ds in bl tqykbZ ds var ugha Hkjs x;sA tcfd ;g p;u izfØ;k bu inks ads fjDr gksus ls igys gh iwjh gks tkuh pkfg, FkhA

Rajasthan Patrika 1 Aug 2010
^fouhr ukjk;.k cuke Hkkjr ljdkj* ekeys esa fu.kZ; nsrs gq, loksZPp U;k;ky; us lrdZrk vk;ksx ds lnL;ksa ds p;u dh tks izfØ;k fu/kkZfjr dh gS] mlesa dsoy rhu yksxksa dks cSBd djuh gksrh gS( iz/kkuea=h] laln esa izfri{k ds usrk o dsUnzh; x`gea=hA D;k ;s rhuksa fnYyh esa jgrs gq, brus Hkkjh O;Lr gSa fd xr vkB eghus esa ,d ?k.Vs dk le; Hkh dsUnzh; lrdZrk vk;ksx tSlh egRoiw.kZ laoS/kkfud laLFkk ds lnL;ksa ds p;u ds fy, ugha fudky ldrs\ bl cSBd dks cqykus dh ftEesnkjh x`gea=ky; ds dkfeZd foHkkx ns[kus okys jkT;ea=h i`Fohjkt pkSgku dh gSA bl dksrkgh ds fy, muds ikl dksbZ tcko ugha gSA i=dkjksa }kjk fiNys ,d eghus esa tc yxkrkj ncko cuk;k x;k] rc dgha tkdj 30 tqykbZ dks ;g cSBd cqykus dh dok;n “kq# gqb gSAblls lcls cM+k uqdlku ;g gksxk fd vc tks u;s lnL; vk;saxs mUgsa orZeku eq[; lrdZrk vk;qDr izR;w’k flUgk ds lkFk dke djus dk ,d eghus dk Hkh le; ugha feysxkA vkxkeh 6 flrEcj dks lsokfuo`Rr gks jgs Jh flUgk dSls vius u;s lkfFk;ksa dks bl foHkkx dh laosnu”khy yfEcr Qkbyksa ds ckjs esa crk ik;saxs\ vxj fiNys uoEcj esa le; ls ;g fu;qfDr;k¡ gks tkrha rks u;s lnL;ksa dks Jh flUgk ds lkFk 10 eghus rd dke djus dk ekSdk feyrkA vc 6 flrEcj ls vk;ksx ds rhuksa gh lnL; u;s gksaxs] ftlls vk;ksx ds dke esa dkQh vM+pu vk;asxhA

ge bl dkWye esa cgqr igys ftdz dj pqds gSa fd dsUnzh; lrdZrk vk;ksx dks tks veyk fn;k x;k gS] og Hkh blds nkf;Roksa dks ns[krs gq, ukdkQh gSaA Hkz’Vkpkj ds ekeys esa nqfu;kHkj dh ljdkjksa ds vkpj.k ij fuxkg j[kus okyh laLFkk ^Vªkalisjsalh b.Vjus”kuy* dh fjiksVZ ds vuqlkj Hkkjr nqfu;k ds Hkz’Vre jk’Vªksa esa ls ,d gSA tkfgj gS tgk¡ Hkz’Vkpkj bl dnj gS ogk¡ bl ij fu;U=.k j[kus okys vk;ksx ds dke dk nk;jk fdruk cM+ tk;sxkA vkxkeh jk’Vªdqy [ksyksa dks gh ys yhft,A buds vk;kstu dh rS;kjh esa gtkjksa djksM+ :i;k jkr&fnu ikuh dh rjg cgk;k x;k gSA ikjnf”kZrk vkSj tckonsgh dh lkjh e;kZnkvksa dks rkd ij j[kdj Hkz’Vkpkj dk uaxk ukp gks jgk gSA reke ekeys dsUnzh; lrdZrk vk;ksx ds ikl igq¡p pqds gSaA ,sls esa ,d lnL;h; vk;ksx fdruk cks>k mBk ldrk gS\

Hkkjr esa ftrus Hkh laoS/kkfud in gSa] mu ij fu;qDr gksus okys O;fDr dk dk;Zdky 5 o’kZ j[kk x;k gSA tSls eq[; pquko vk;qDr] dsUnzh; lwpuk vk;qDr] egkys[kkdkj vkfnA ij dsUnzh; lrdZrk vk;ksx ds lnL;ksa dk dk;Zdky ek= 4 o’kZ j[kk x;k gSA blds ihNs D;k rdZ gS] le> ds ckgj gS\ bl vk;ksx dks Hkh vU; vk;ksxksa dh rjg leku dk;Zdky D;ksa ugha fn;k tk ldrk\

tSu gokyk dk.M ds uke ls e”kgwj eqdnes dh lquokbZ djrs gq, tc loksZPp U;k;ky; us ns[kk fd lh-ch-vkbZ- yxkrkj iz/kkuea=h dk;kZy; ls funsZ”k ysrh gS vkSj LorU= O;ogkj ugha dj ikrh rks vnkyr us lh-ch-vkbZ- dh Lok;Rrk lqfuf”pr djus ds mn~ns”; ls mls dsUnzh; lrdZrk vk;ksx ds v/khu fd;s tkus ds funsZ”k fn,A lkFk gh ;g Hkh funsZ”k fn, fd ^dkuwu dh fuxkg esa lc cjkcj* ds fl)kar dk ikyu djrs gq, fdlh Hkh in ij cSBs ofj’B vf/kdkjh ;k ea=h ds f[kykQ Hkz’Vkpkj dh f”kdk;r vkus ij lh-ch-vkbZ- dks ljdkj ls vuqefr ugha ysuh gksxhA ij foMEcuk nsf[k, fd lalnh; lfefr us] blesa lHkh nyksa ds lkaln lnL; gksrs gSa] loksZPp U;k;ky; ds bl fu;e dh /kfTt;k¡ mM+k nhaA urhtru dgus dks rks lh-ch-vkbZ- dsUnzh; lrdZrk vk;ksx dh fuxjkuh esa dk;Z djrh gS] ij okLro esa mldh fLFkfr vkt Hkh iwoZor~ gSA ;kfu mPp inLFk vf/kdkfj;ksa vkSj eaf=;ksa ds f[kykQ Hkz’Vkpkj dh tk¡p djus dh mls NwV ugha gSA ,slk djus ls igys lh-ch-vkbZ- dks iz/kkuea=h dk;kZy; ls iwokZuqefr ysuh gksrh gSA foMEcuk ;g gS fd iz/kkuea=h dk;kZy; lh-ch-vkbZ- dh ,slh lHkh izkFkZukvksa ij dku cgjs djds cSBk jgrk gS vkSj lkyksa vuqefr iznku ugha djrkA urht+ru mPp inLFk Hkz’V vf/kdkjh u flQZ vius in ij cSBs jgrs gSa] cfYd iz/kkuea=h dk;kZy; ds v?kksf’kr lqj{kk dop esa vius vuSfrd dkjukeksa dks Mads dh pksV ij vatke nsrs jgrs gSaA ,slk vc rd ds gj iz/kkuea=h ds dk;kZdky esa gksrk vk;k gS] pkgs og ;w-ih-,- dk jgk gks ;k ,u-Mh-,- dkA bruk gh ugha fiNys fnuksa bl vk;ksx ls ljdkj us og vf/kdkj Hkh Nhu fy;k ftlds rgr ;g lh-ch-vkbZ- dks dsl jftLVj djus dk funsZ”k nsrk FkkA ,sls reke izek.k gSa tks ;g fl) djrs gSa fd dsUnz esa ljdkj esa dksbZ Hkh ny gks] oks mPp inklhu O;fDr;ksa ds fo:) Hkz’Vkpkj dh tk¡p ugha gksus nsuk pkgrkA blfy, dsUnzh; lrdZrk vk;ksx dh yxkrkj nqxZfr dh tk jgh gSA ij ikjnf”kZrk ds fy, igpkus tkus okys MkW- eueksgu flag dks D;k gks x;k gS tks os viuh ukd ds uhps gks jgh bl vU/ksj dks vuns[kk fd, cSBs gq, gSa\
 

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Beyond Fundamentalism and False Secularism

India-Pakistan cricket matches are often billed by promoters as ‘Qayamat’ for the fervor with which they are fought by the players and their supporters in the stands. However, at the Opening Ceremony of the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, the Pakistani contingent was cheered into the stadium (uproarious has different meaning) by some sixty thousand Indian spectators. Indeed, after the home team, it was the Pakistani contingent which was greeted the most warmly. This was a spontaneous reaction, owing nothing to the strategies of the Ministry of External Affairs or the tactics of the Home Ministry. The reaction was so natural that its very simplicity made hearts on either side of the border well up with emotion. 

Despite recent differences, we belong to the same land. We share a conjoined history of not ten or twenty, but thousands of years (aeons conflicts with five thousand years). Some of us became Buddhists, other Jains, some Christians, some Muslims, and yet others Sikhs. But, whatever our persuasion, we breathed the same air, and shared the same space. So when the people of India and Pakistan are allowed to act on their own, away from the self-serving machinations of politicians and military regimes, they behave like long-separated twins.

What is true of the part is true of the whole. Consider the dispute between Hindus and Muslims over a small scrap of land in Ayodhya. Undeniably there has been a legal battle for sixty years, but neither side feels compelled to fight or destroy each other over the latest court verdict apportioning the land in Solomonic fashion. Through the length and breadth of the country, all Hindus and Muslims feel the same way. Those who have neither a political nor a financial axe to grind think only of the nation’s welfare and the concerns of the common man.

A few days ago, the Sunni WAKF Board, Babri Masjid Action Committee, All India Muslim Personal Law Board and other Islamic groups held a conference on the Court’s decision on Ayodhya. Many of the speakers urged that the Court’s decision be accepted and that Muslims move on and greet the future. Member of Rajya Sabha, Rashid Alvi’s article in a daily publication expressed the opinion of a true man of Islam. Alvi reminded Muslims that after Independence, theocratic Pakistan declared itself an Islamic state. The Muslims who stayed on in India at that time were so fearful of a like reaction that they took down the Muslim League flag and unfurled the Indian tricolour overnight. The then national leadership of India could, had it so wished, easily have declared India a Hindu State, because the severance of India and Pakistan was based on religion. But the Hindu majority chose to declare India a secular country. In his article, Alvi advised Muslims to show similar generosity in the Ayodhya matter. He reminded Muslims that Punjab alone had hundreds of mosques neglected since Independence. Then why create such a furore over the Babri Masjid alone?

The truth is that we need to rethink not just the Ayodhya issue, but Hindu-Muslim relations in their entirety. And this thinking must arise from love and acceptance; it must be based on progress. The trouble is that the prominent faces and voices on both sides of the argument are either fundamentalists or followers of false secularism. Their numbers include many senior journalists, whom I respect and with whom I share deep and warm friendships. But when I read their articles or listen to them speak, I often feel that their secularism is a mere stunt. They neither have a grip on the ground realities of the situation nor are they capable of understanding public sentiment. The solution they propose is to build the temple and the mosque adjacent to each other. This is, at best, a romantic notion. On the one hand, we would like to foster love, respect and harmony between the followers of both faiths. On the other, we suggest a solution that will never allow both communities to live peacefully together.

I had occasion to speak with a prominent reporter, a vociferous supporter of this solution. I asked him, suppose someone forcibly entered your home, and set up camp outside your bedroom. Sixty years of litigation later, if the verdict acknowledged that the house is yours, but allowed the interloper to stay on, and further asked that you both live in harmony, would you be able to do this? Isn’t it far more likely that every time you enter your home and head towards your bedroom, seeing the interloper there will make your blood pressure skyrocket?

The same argument applies to Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura. No Muslim can deny that these three places are home to venerated Hindu gods Ram, Shiva, and Krishna. Muslims readily acknowledge that Muslim invaders had ordered that the temples situated in these places be razed and replaced with mosques. As long as the mosques remain here, Hindu rage will keep flaring up in incidents of the type the karsevaks perpetrated in Ayodhya. On the other hand, if Muslims respect the Shariat law, which disallows the building of a mosque on a disputed site, and in the process, correct a mistake made long ago, tremendous benefits will follow.

Firstly, fundamentalists of both faiths will be forced to shut shop. Secondly, it will create a historic communal friendship that will be the cynosure of the world for all time to come. Thirdly, the enormous effort and energy expended in the conflict will be harnessed towards development and progress for the entire nation.

But the biggest advantage is that India’s one hundred and ten crore people will be overwhelmed beyond speech. Then, not the Pakistani contingent alone, but all Muslims, be they from India, Pakistan, or any other country, will be welcomed in each Hindu home and every Hindu neighbourhood with the kind of reverence that can only be Godly. That is when brotherhood will truly take root. That is when each Indian will be master of his destiny.

This concrete step will in no way harm Islam because this is not a petition to build a temple at Mecca or Medina. This is a way to free the Hindu sanctums of Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura from the clutches of communalism and to reestablish their rightful place in history and geography. This is only possible if fundamentalists on both sides of the communal divide are removed from the process of bridging the divide. It is time for all Indians to gird their loins and prepare the national leadership to lead the way.

*The author is a renowned journalist. See www.vineetnarain.net
 This article was published in various regional dailies on 24th Oct. 2010 throughout India

Sunday, October 31, 2010

मुसलमानों ने नरेन्द्र मोदी को वोट क्यों दिया ?


Rajasthan Patrika 31st Oct 2010
हाल ही में सम्पन्न हुए नगर निकायों के चुनावों में भाजपा को गुजरात में भारी विजय मिली है। जिसका श्रेय हमेशा की तरह गुजरात के मुख्यमंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी को दिया जा रहा है। इन परिणामों से एक बार फिर यह तय हो गया है कि गोधरा काण्ड को लेकर दिल्ली में बैठे लोग चाहें जितना शोर मचाते रहें, गुजरात की जनता पर उसका कोई असर नहीं पड़ता। इसलिए अपने गढ़ में ही नहीं इंका के गढ़ में भी संेध लगाने में नरेन्द्र मोदी सफल रहे हैं। इस हफ्ते मैंने गुजरात के कुछ शहरों का दौरा किया और आम लोगों से इसकी वजह पूछी। जाहिर है कि गुजरात की जनता चाहे वो हिन्दू हो या मुसलमान नरेन्द्र मोदी के काम के तरीके से खुश है। मुसलमानों का कहना है कि गोधरा और सोहराबुद्दीन का नाम चाहे जितना उछाला जाए, हमें उससे कोई फर्क नहीं पड़ता। क्योंकि जबसे नरेन्द्र भाई ने सूबे की बागडोर संभाली है, तब से पूरे सूबे में अमन चैन कायम है। कोई दंगे नहीं हुए। गुण्डे और मवालियों को राजनीति में संरक्षण नहीं है। तरक्की के रास्ते हरेक के लिए बराबर खुले हैं। इसलिए इस चुनाव में भी पिछले विधानसभा चुनावों की तरह गुजरात के मुसलमान मतदाताओं ने नरेन्द्र मोदी का खुलकर साथ दिया है। जब उनसे यह पूछा कि क्या आपका समर्थन भाजपा को है? तो उनका सीधा जबाव था, नहीं, नरेन्द्र भाई को।
Punjab Kesari 1st Nov. 2010
 
मुम्बई से अहमदाबाद की हवाई यात्रा में मेरे साथ गुजरात के कुछ उद्योगपति थे। उनका कहना था कि नरेन्द्र भाई ने गुजरात में तरक्की के द्वार सबके के लिए खोल दिए हैं और व्यवस्था को इतना जिम्मेदार, पारदर्शी और प्रभावी बना दिया है कि बिना रिश्वत दिए बड़े-बड़े काम मिनटों में हो जाते हैं। ये सहयात्री मुम्बई में रहते हैं और गुजरात में कपड़े की मिल लगाना चाहते थे। इन्हें गुजरात के औद्योगिक क्षेत्र में जमीन की तलाश थी। उन्होंने इण्टरनेट पर आवेदन भरा और सारी सूचनाऐं इण्टरनेट पर ही डाल दीं। जमीन आवण्टन के कार्यालय में एक बार भी चक्कर लगाये बिना, किसी भी नेता से सिफारिशी फोन करवाये बिना, किसी भी अधिकारी को घूस दिए बिना इन्हें विभाग से हफ्ते भर में फोन आ गया कि आप मौके पर जाकर जमीन पसन्द कर लीजिए। इन्होंने जमीन पसन्द की तो एक अधिकारी इनके साथ गया और अगले दिन इनका पंजीकरण हो गया। यानि बिना किसी परेशानी के जमीन आवण्टित हो गयी। इन सहयात्री का चुनौती देकर कहना था कि मैं आपको हिन्दुस्तान के किसी भी राज्य में ले चलने को तैयार हूँ, जहाँ मुझे आप ऐसा दूसरा उदाहरण दिखा सकें।
 



खुद नरेन्द्र मोदी गुजरात में निरन्तर बिजली आपूर्ति बने रहने का ताल ठोककर दावा करते हैं। जिसकी गुजराती भी सराहना करते हैं। दरअसल गुजराती स्वभाव से ही व्यापारी होते हैं। आपको दुनिया के हर कोने में गुजरात के लोग बहुत मेहनती और उद्यमशील मिलेंगे। धर्म बदलने से सामाजिक संस्कार नहीं बदल जाते। इसलिए गुजरात के हिन्दु हों या मुसलमान, दोनों ही इस बात से बेहद खुश हैं कि उनको व्यापार में तरक्की करने का भरपूर मौका नरेन्द्र भाई दे रहे हैं। नरेन्द्र मोदी की पूरी रणनीति गुजरात को तरक्की के रास्ते पर ले जाने की है। ये बात यहाँ का हर नौजवान भी कहता है। वह उदाहरण देता है गुजरात की सड़कों का, जिनका विस्तार और गुणवत्ता नरेन्द्र मोदी के शासनकाल में तेजी से बढ़ी है। यहाँ के लोग बताते हैं कि केन्द्र से जो हजारों करोड़ रूपया विकास के लिए गुजरात में आता है। उसका अच्छा खासा भाग जमीन पर खर्च होता हुआ दिखायी देता है। यूं निचले स्तर पर व्यवस्था को पूरी तरह भ्रष्टाचार मुक्त करने का दावा तो कोई नहीं करेगा। पर ये भी सही है कि गुजरात में आपको घूमते हुए सत्ता के दलाल नहीं मिलेंगे। जो आपको ये आश्वासन दे सकें कि अगर आपका कोई बड़ा काम अटका है तो वे पैसे लेकर नरेन्द्र मोदी से करवा देंगे। नरेन्द्र मोदी दलालों से बात नहीं करते। जिसकी गरज होती है, वो खुद उनके पास जाता है और वो उसकी समस्या का तुरत हल निकालने की ईमानदार कोशिश करते हैं। फिर वो चाहें छोटे उद्योगपति हों या बंगाल से नैनो गुजरात लाने वाले रतन टाटा।
 

यहाँ आकर मालूम चलता है कि नरेन्द्र मोदी ने मजबूत नेतृत्व, जिम्मेदार प्रशासन और विकास की अपनी रणनीति के माध्यम से गुजरात के समाज में अपनी जड़ें गहरी जमा ली हैं। नरेन्द्र मोदी के बिना भाजपा यहाँ कुछ भी नहीं है और विपक्ष में भी कोई नेता उनके कद का नहीं बचा है।

 
नरेन्द्र मोदी की एक खास बात यह भी है कि अविवाहित होने के कारण उन्हें अपने युवराजों के लिए धन संग्रह की जरूरत नहीं है। वे तो उपहार में मिली वस्तुओं को भी नीलाम कर उससे प्राप्त आमदनी को मुख्यमंत्री राहत कोष में डलवा देते हैं। चुनाव लड़ने के लिए तो धन चाहिए ही और इस धन का जुगाड़ वे चार-पाँच बड़े औद्योगिक घरानों से पूरा कर लेते हैं और फिर दबंगाई से हुकूमत करते हैं।
 
सर्वोच्च न्यायालय ने नरेन्द्र मोदी के मामलों में निचली अदालतों के आदेश पर लगी रोक हटा ली है। इससे दिल्ली में सुगबुगाहट है कि नरेन्द्र मोदी अब नहीं बच पायेंगे। पर हकीकत यह है कि अगर नरेन्द्र मोदी के खिलाफ कोई भी कार्यवाही होती है तो उसका विपरीत असर ही गुजरात की जनता पर पड़ेगा। क्योंकि गुजरात की जनता नरेन्द्र मोदी को ही अपना मुख्यमंत्री देखना चाहती है।
 
आश्चर्य की बात यह है कि नरेन्द्र मोदी की छवि को लगातार राष्ट्रीय और अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय मीडिया में एक कट्टरपंथी मुस्लिम विरोधी की बनाये जाने के बावजूद गुजरात के मुसलमान नरेन्द्र मोदी के साथ खड़े हैं। इस बात पर भी आश्चर्य होता है कि नरेन्द्र मोदी की इस उपलब्धि पर टी.वी. चैनलों में या अखबारों में बोला और लिखा क्यों नहीं जा रहा? तो इससे ये मतलब निकाला जाए कि उनके बारे में जो लिखा और बोला जाता है, वह सही नहीं है, और सही है उस पर खामोशी साध ली जाती है।